2018 School Spending Survey Report
The Sobbing School
Penguin. (Poets). Sept. 2016. 96p. ISBN 9780143111863. pap. $18; ebk. ISBN 9781101993101. POETRY
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Though he does well by debuting with a National Poetry Series winner, Bennett is already well known from the video of his performance for the Obamas at the White House Poetry Jam, which has claimed almost 400,000 views on YouTube. His opening poem, addressed to an escaped slave Henry Box Brown, has Brown performing in "sold out/ shows an ocean away from the place/ that made you possible." Throughout, Bennett clarifies what made him possible, moving from strict Baptist parents who "praise a vengeful god," to school bullies and best friends, to considerations of blackness couched in language both pop culture and high culture. Delivered without showiness, his imagery is indeed arresting; Richard Wright starts a fire "just to see cinder blacken/ his father's hands like the insides of a loganberry pie."
VERDICT Highly recommended.
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